Follow Me When the Sun Goes Down by Lisa Olsen

swagger of a man who knows he’s got good looks and charm enough to catch the eye of most any woman in the room who has a taste for bad boys.  I admit, he definitely caught my attention. 
    He didn’t say anything at first, just stood there inspecting me up and down like he was waiting to bid on a horse at an auction.  “So, you’re the new filly.  I approve,” he said at last, his warm drawl as smooth as molasses. 
    “And you’re the cowboy.”  I had no idea who the guy was, but the boots and the shiny belt buckle the size of a grapefruit were a dead giveaway even with out a trademark hat.
    “Macallister James, ma’am.  Pleased ta meetcha.” 
    “He runs Texas,” Rob said at my ear and I was grateful for the intel. 
    “Hello, Mr. James,” I smiled, accepting his handshake.  He didn’t linger over it or give me the bedroom eyes like some men did, but there was something in his smile.  Something that led me to believe that if I ditched the party to hop into his car, I’d have one heck of a night.  “It’s nice to meet you.”
    “Likewise,” he nodded. 
    “Are you in town for long?”
    “Just long enough to pay my respects and conduct a little business.  Any chance you’re givin’ away private meetin’s to those of us who didn’t get an invite to this shindig?”
    Bonus point for use of the word shindig, but I didn’t think it had the same connotation for him.  “It’s possible.  Why, do we have something in particular to discuss?”
    “I can think of lots of things, us bein’ practically neighbors and all.”
    There was that smile again, but as much as I could appreciate its power, he wasn’t quite my type.  “We’ll have to see, my dance card’s filling up fast.”
    “Long as you save me one, darlin’, that’s all a fella can ask for.” 
    “Talk to my secretary, maybe we can set something up.”
    “No time like the present, is there?”
    He was persistent, I had to give him that.  “Talk to my secretary, tell her I said to give you priority level alpha status.”  There was no such thing as priority level alpha status, but he seemed duly impressed and backed off, leaving me free to greet the next hanger on. 
    “What do I need to know about Macallister James?” I murmured to Rob as soon as he’d moved on.
    “I think that’s better discussed in private,” he bent to reply, straightening as the next well wisher approached.  He was right, of course.  More than ever, I resolved to sit down and figure out who all the heavy hitters were, at least in my corner of the world. 

Chapter Six
     
    It was definitely time to do some homework.  With the Gathering looming closer, I holed up in my study with Rob and Jenessa the next night, trying to make some sense of their random impressions of the other Houses.  While neither one of them had ever been to a Gathering before, they’d both met some of the big players over the years. 
    We started with a map, and I was surprised to find out how much the West encompassed.  Not only did I have all the states on the coast, but Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona and Utah.  Over three fourths of Canada aligned itself with the West as well. 
    After about two hours, I had distilled their knowledge into a semi-coherent table of notes on each House:
    -         The House of Toulac – Based in Paris.  Once more powerful, not so much now.  Sort of waffley with their support so don’t trust an alliance.  Run by Jean Pierre Severine.  A bit paranoid and twitchy these days.
    -         The House of Salete – Based in San Paolo.  Total party animals, won’t do much serious business.  Run by Felippo Cristobal, already have an accord with them.
    -         The House of Valbjorn – Based in Amsterdam.  Anything goes there, secret police clean stuff up. Secret?  Leader is Erik Erlendur, people are totally loyal to him.  Right hand man is Niels, does the day to day like Felix.
    -         The House of